The Lamborghini Gallardo is a high-performance exotic super car made in Italy and little brother to the Murcielago.

The Gallardo is available in three models: a base two-door coupe, Superleggera and Spyder convertible. It has an aluminum body and space frame allowing it a better power to weight ratio. It is powered by a 520 hp 5.0-liter V-10 controlled by a six-speed manual transmission (optional is a sequential 'E-gear' transmission). The Gallardo is full-time all-wheel drive and comes with several standard safety features such as airbags, antilock brakes, traction control, and an electronic stability system.

2008 Lamborghini Gallardo

The 2008 Lamborghini Gallardo is a world-class sports car that boasts wild acceleration that goes with its wildly styled exterior.

Named after a breed of eighteenth-century fighting bulls, the Gallardo made its debut in 2004. Since then, it's become the best-selling vehicle in Lamborghini's history -- and it's easy to see why. The Auto Channel calls it a "supercar like few other. Quick, responsive and highly desirable." Likewise, the Arizona Republic says the Gallardo is "every bit the supercar, boasting plenty of performance, style and charisma." Last year, Lamborghini began offering the new Gallardo Superleggera, which features lighter-weight components and more horsepower. New Car Test Drive calls this newest offering "one of the most exciting, easy-to-drive sports cars ever built, a very special car for the few who can afford it."

But does the Gallardo justify its extravagant $200,000-plus base price? "For those with loads of disposable income, Gallardo has to be on the sports-car shopping list," says the Arizona Republic. Note that the Superleggera costs almost $30,000 more than the base Gallardo. Still, Car and Driver calls it "something of a bargain for Lambo fanciers," noting that "a Superleggera is a good $100,000 less than a comparably equipped Murci�lago LP640, about as quick in a straight line, and a lot less of a handful on a track."

The Gallardo comes as a two-door coupe equipped with a 5.0-liter V10 engine. The Superleggera model adds 10 additional horsepower. The Gallardo Spyder, added to the line in 2006, features an automatic soft top.